Congress Chaplains A Part Of U.s. History

Answer Desk

September 13, 2002|By PERNELL WATSON Daily Press

Q: When did Congress start employing chaplains? -- O.R., Williamsburg

A: Congress has paid chaplains since 1789. When the House of Representatives met that year, its members chose the Rev. William Lynn as their first chaplain. The Senate selected Samuel Provost, the Episcopal bishop of New York, who offered prayers at George Washington's presidential inauguration.

In 1983, after atheists filed a lawsuit saying the laws passed by Congress to pay chaplains were unconstitutional, the Supreme Court upheld the practice of having an official chaplain as deeply ingrained in the history and tradition of this country.

The congressional chaplains have a variety of duties including opening each legislative session with prayer, providing spiritual counsel to members of Congress and their families, conducting Bible studies, and presiding at weddings and funerals.

Over the years, house chaplains have come from nine denominations and senate chaplains have come from eight denominations.

The House chaplain earns $148,000 per year, and the Senate chaplain's salary is $130,000.

FYI: The House of Representatives went without a chaplain from 1855-1861. The House decided to suspend appointing a chaplain because of competition among political patrons who wanted his favorite pastor for the post.